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NEW DELHI: Over a period aft facing a drubbing successful the West Bengal polls, Trinamool Congress appears to beryllium experiencing a 2nd question of exodus, with respective enactment MPs reportedly submitting a missive to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressing their tendency to enactment the BJP-led NDA.This comes days aft Mamata Banerjee mislaid power implicit her party's legislature wing, arsenic 58 TMC MLAs broke ranks with the enactment and backed Ritabrata Banerjee for the station of person of absorption successful the West Bengal assembly, rejecting the party's authoritative nominee, Shovandeb Chattopadhyay.While the rebel parliamentarians allegedly hatched their plans successful Delhi, Mamata was besides successful the nationalist superior attending the INDIA bloc conclave aimed astatine forging absorption unity against the BJP.Here is what we cognize truthful far:Sukhendu Ray resignsThe concatenation of events began aft seasoned TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray resigned from the enactment and stepped down arsenic a subordinate of the Upper House.Ray, among TMC's astir recognisable faces successful Parliament, announced his determination successful the nationalist superior hours earlier a gathering of the INDIA bloc, attended by erstwhile West Bengal main curate Mamata Banerjee and enactment nationalist wide caput Abhishek Banerjee.In a statement, Ray cited what helium described arsenic rampant corruption successful governance and the enactment organisation, and said nationalist choler against the erstwhile TMC dispensation had reached alarming levels.
"I had publically spoken retired connected the RG Kar infirmary issue. Since then, I was progressively isolated wrong the party. My lone responsibility was that I demanded an interior enquiry against definite constabulary officers due to the fact that I believed they had a large relation successful the demolition of evidence," Ray said."That was the turning point. I realised I would not stay successful the enactment for long," helium added.TMC's tally successful the Rajya Sabha came down to 12 with Ray's resignation.20 MPs huddle astatine BJP leader's houseHours later, a radical of dissident TMC MPs held a gathering astatine BJP person Bhupender Yadav's residence successful Delhi.A photograph purportedly from the gathering that circulated online showed Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray, on with MPs Abu Taher, Asit Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Kalipada Soren, Jagadish Basunia, Prasun Banerjee, Sharmila Sarkar and Satabdi Roy.Adding substance to the speculation was the beingness of West Bengal main curate Suvendu Adhikari astatine Yadav's residence.Rebel MPs constitute to Lok Sabha SpeakerLater successful the day, Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said the rebel faction had decided to constitute to Speaker Om Birla declaring enactment for the NDA. According to sources, the rebel MPs person chosen not to instantly resign from TMC oregon articulation BJP. Instead, they mean to relation arsenic a abstracted bloc supporting the NDA, a strategy designed to shield them from the anti-defection law.A transcript of the missive shared by enactment sources reportedly carried a stamp of receipt from the Speaker's bureau dated May 29.Speaking to PTI implicit the phone, Ghosh Dastidar said, "Nearly 20 TMC MPs, including me, person decided to constitute to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and formally enactment the NDA."Dissident MPs mean to reason earlier the Speaker that Ghosh Dastidar continues to beryllium the main whip of the enactment successful the Lok Sabha."We person accepted the people's verdict and judge that our aboriginal governmental people should beryllium aligned with the NDA," Ghosh Dastidar said.A TMC leader, however, said the enactment had communicated its determination to region her arsenic main whip and name Kalyan Banerjee done an authoritative missive to the Lok Sabha Secretariat dated May 20, signed by TMC Parliamentary Party chairperson Mamata Banerjee.'Let's spot what large heroes you are'Meanwhile, TMC MP Kirti Azad accused BJP of exaggerating the fig of MPs progressive and claimed that lone 13 MPs attended the gathering astatine Bhupender Yadav's residence."The fake and fabricated communicative of BJP's soiled tricks section is claiming 20 MPs. There were 13 MPs — 12 from Lok Sabha and 1 from Rajya Sabha — who attended the gathering astatine Bhupender Yadav's house. No 1 other has signed connected the dotted enactment isolated from these," Azad wrote successful a station connected X.TMC MP Sougata Roy besides dismissed suggestions of an exodus."I person heard that immoderate MPs held a abstracted gathering past night. Only they tin accidental what transpired successful the meeting.
I was not contacted by them," helium said.Asked astir reports of attempts by BJP to scope retired to TMC MPs, Roy said helium had been contacted but declined the offer."I told them I volition stay with TMC. At this age, it won't beryllium imaginable for maine to alteration camp," the 78-year-old four-term MP told PTI.Ray, who attended the gathering astatine Yadav's residence, resigned from the Rajya Sabha arsenic good arsenic the superior rank of the enactment and issued a connection accusing TMC of "15 years of anarchical rule" earlier BJP came to powerfulness successful the state.His resignation from the Rajya Sabha has been accepted by Chairman C P Radhakrishnan."I person met the Rajya Sabha president and submitted my resignation. I person conveyed my determination to resign from the enactment done WhatsApp and email to Mamata Banerjee," Ray told reporters."I had my tenure till 2029 successful the Rajya Sabha, but I person resigned connected rule from the enactment arsenic it would beryllium hard for maine to continue," helium said.Mahua Moitra besides lashed retired astatine the rebel MPs, saying their electoral victories were secured connected the spot of the Trinamool Congress mandate."MPs won successful 2024 connected TMC ticket. Mandate was NOT for NDA," Moitra said successful a station connected X.Questioning the legitimacy of immoderate effort to power sides portion retaining their seats, she challenged the rebel MPs to resign and contention caller elections."All the greedy, self-serving traitors with yellow-stained pants tin delight articulation BJP present — resign your seats and contention connected a BJP ticket," she remarked.Moitra further threw down the gauntlet to the dissidents, saying, "Let's spot what large heroes you are."The fig gameTMC presently has 28 Lok Sabha MPs, with 1 vacancy pursuing the decease of Basirhat MP Haji Nurul Islam. The enactment of 20 MPs would comfortably transverse the two-thirds threshold required to debar disqualification nether the anti-defection law.A TMC leader, however, reiterated that adjacent securing that fig would not automatically alteration the rebel faction to relation arsenic a abstracted parliamentary group."As per the law, adjacent if two-thirds of MPs privation to permission a party, the lone prime they person is to merge with different governmental party. There is nary proviso for a abstracted group," the person said.
